Automatic knitting machine for the manufacture of proportioned articles, with or without seams



Oct. 12, 1937. G. LEBOCEY I 2,095,606

AUTOMATIC KNITTING MACHINE FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF PROPORTION'ED ARTICLES, WITH OR WITHOUT SEAMS Filed Dec. 1, 1936 3 Sheets-Sheet l Oct. 12, 1937. ca. LEBOCEY 2,095,506

AUTOMATIC KNITTING MACHINE FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF PROFORTIONED ARTICLES, WITH 'OR WITHOUT SEAMS Filed Dec. 1, 1936 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Fig.4.

Oct. 12, 1937. a. LEBOCEY 2,095,606

AUTOMATIC KNITTING MACHINE FORTHE MANUFACTURE OF" I PROPQRTIONED ARTICLES, WITH OR WITHOUT SEAMS Filed Dec. 1, 19:56 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented Oct. 12, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Gaston Lebocey, Troyes, France,

' Application December 1, 1936, Serial No. 113,739 In France December 9, 1935 7 Claims.

This invention relates to a flat knitting machine provided with one or two needle beds and intended to be used for the manufacture of proportioned knitted articles, such as: head-gear,

bust-supporters, and all proportioned articles having in general a surface which cannot be unfolded or flattened without forming folds or undulations, characterized by the increasing and decreasing variation of the, number 01' stitches contained in difierent columns of consecutive stitches. The present machine moreover allows of manufacturing articles, proportioned or not, worked in Jacquard or in stitches formed by selection of needles on one or two needle beds.

Various designs of knitting machines devised for the same purpose are already known, said machines substantially comprising a needle bed having self-acting needles individually movable in their respective grooves and capable of being putin knitting action through the medium of a selecting mechanism.

In these types of machines, a selectingprism of known type (drum or Jacquard chain) pro: vided with cards or cut out blades, is placed under the control of an automatic counter the function of which consists in successively moving to working position the-selecting elements in proportion as the rows'of knitting are formed. As on most known Jacquard mechanisms, the prism receives on the other hand a transverse displacement for moving the selecting elements in engagement with the needles to be controlled.

Up to this day, the selecting prism was supported at both its ends by a system of rocking 35 levers actuated by a cam provided with a groove;

' It will be easily understood that this arrangement has serious inconveniences owing to the impossibility of balancing the considerable forces of inertia resulting from the relatively rapid oscillating movement of the mass of the prism.

On the other hand, concerning more particularly the angular displacement of-the prism about its own axis of rotation, this displacement was up to now subjected to the control of automatic counter of the releasing type, specially arranged for ensuring at the required moment the release of the pawls actuating the prism. The prism thus released then remained subjected to-the action of an antagonistic spring orof a tion to the normal rotation for causing instanttaneous return of the prism to its initial starting position.

It will be understood that these embodiments,

65 based on too elementary mechanical means, are

returning counterweight acting in reverse direcof such a nature as to cause serious perturbations prejudicious to the-positive working oi the machine owing to the shocks and vibrations resulting from their very principle of operation. Moreover, it is to be noted that the necessity of '5 ensuring the rotation of the prism in the reverse direction for restoring the latter to its initial position generates a repeated number of idle periods of time which prevent the increase of speed of the machine and limit its capacity of production.

The present invention is adapted to remedy these multiple inconveniences and consists in the utilization of a number of mechanical means which are new or of an entirely new application concerning the various arrangements applied up to this day on this special type or machine.

For that purpose, according to the invention, a selecting prism or drumis supported at both its ends by a system of bearings connected by a rigid supporting cradle having two tracks resting on a system of rollers.

The transverse displacement of the prism is ensured by a series of circular cams or of doubleacting eccentrics connected to the cradle sup- 25 porting the prism by a system of levers. This arrangement has the advantage of ensuring positive control-of the prism in both directions of its transverse displacement. It assists in ensuring a smooth running of the machine, free of vibrations and, consequently,.very silent.

Contrarily to the devices known up to this day, the rotation of the prism always takes place in the same direction whatever may be the importance of the series of selecting elements. An automatic counter of a new typeimparts to the selecting prism angular speeds variable according to a time law determined by the number of rows composing the series. This arrangement allows of restoring again the selecting prism to its initial starting position without necessitating any backward movement of this prism.

Moreover, in order to further increase the positiveness of operation of the machine, a latchopening blade is automatically actuated at each row in order to control or complete the opening of the latches in case of holes or lappets.

The present description and the accompanying drawings show, by way of example, a form of construction of the elements constituting the invention applied to a knitting machine having a single needle bed, as well as theirapplication to a machine provided with a double needle bed.

Fig. 1 is-an elevation showing the transverse carriage supporting the prism.

Fig. 2 is a partial section illustrating the transverse control of the carriage.

Fig. 3 is a side view of a mechanism controlling the rotation of the prism.

Fig. 4 is a front view of the counter controlling the rotation of the prism.

Fig. 5 is a plan view corresponding to Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a sideview of the same mechanism.

Fig. 7 is. a partial elevation of the drum or prism.

Fig. 8 is a diagrammatic side view showing the arrangement of a machine having a double needle bed according with the invention.

Fig. 9 diagrammatically illustrates a series of tubulararticles in the shape of cones executed on this machine.

According to an embodiment of the invention, the selecting prism l is supported at both its ends by two bearings 2 and 3. These two bearings are mounted on a supporting cradle 4 having at its ends two guide track 5 and 6 resting on a system of rollers 1 and 8.

One or more groups of associated and combined circular cams 9 and Ill carried by the driving shaft H, actuate a system of roller-carrying levers l2 and I3 mounted on a rocking shaft I 4. On shaft I4 is rigidly secured a crank lever l5 which thus receives a reciprocating rocking movement at each revolution of the driving shaft II.

The end of lever I5 is connected to the movable transverse carriage 4 supporting the prism.

At each revolution of the driving shaft II, the prism is subjected to a reciprocating linear movement of definite amplitude for engaging the selecting elements l6 with the needle tails.

A latch-opening blade H, the action of which can exert itself throughout the width of the needle bed, is carried by a system of rocking levers I8 and I9. The end of lever 19 carries a roller 20 engaging with a cam 2| rigidly secured onthe driving shaft ll.

According to the invention, a ratchet wheel 22 is rigidly secured on the shaft controlling the prism I.

The end of this shaft moreover carries a ratchet wheel 23, a circular plate 24 as well as cams 25 and 26 forming a unit freely rotating on shaft I.

The actuation of the ratchet wheels 22 and 23 is ensured by pawls 21 and 40 controlled by stop members 29 and 42. These pawls can be simultaneously or alternately actuated and the mechanism driving them are identical.

The actuation of ratchet wheel 22 is ensured by the pawl 27 carried by a crank arm 28 freely rotating on its axis of rotation.

- The control of pawl 21 is ensured by the action of the stop member 29 oscillating about a pin 30 mounted on a fixed support 3|.

29a. designates the working position of this stop member 29.

The control of the alternate positions of stop member 29 is ensured through the medium of a slide-block 32 constantly urged by a spring 33. The slide-block 32 is actuated by a lever 34, the end 35 of which engages with a cam 25 rigid with the loose ratchet wheel 23. When the end 35 engages with a rising incline, the arm 34 lowers the slide-block 32 which allows the stop member 29 to fall back to its inoperative position. When stop member 29 is in position 290, when the transverse carriage moves back, it actuates the crank 28 so as to cause the ratchet wheel 22 to rotate to the extent of one tooth. If the stop member 29 is inoperative, the pawl 21 will remain stationary relatively to the carriage and will not cause the ratchet wheel 22 to rotate.

The ratchet wheel 23 is actuated in the same manner as ratchet wheel 22. This actuation is ensured by a pawl 40 carried by an arm 4| and controlled by a stop member 42.

The control of the alternate positions of stop member 42 is ensured by two slide-blocks 49 and 50 controlled by cams 25 and 44, respectively.

The control of slide-block 49 is effected through the medium of a lever 53, the end of which engages with the cam 26 rigid with the ratchet wheel 23.

The control of the slide-block 50 is effected by a lever 54, the end 55 of which engages with the cam 44 rigid with the ratchet wheel 22.

When the end 55 of lever 54 enters a hollow or recess-of cam 44, this lever releases the slideblock 50 urged by the spring 52; this slide-block therefore moves the stop member 42. to its working position and, when the transverse carriage moves back, the crank 4| which engages with stop member 42 actuates' the loose ratchet wheel 23 by its pawl40.

The cam 25, rigid with the loose ratchet wheel 23, controls the slide-block 32 through the medium of a lever 34. When, by its movement of rotation, the ratchet wheel 23 causes the end 35 of lever 34 to be moved opposite a projection of cam 25, this lever lowers the slide-block 32 which allows stop member 29 to fall down to inoperative position, this causing the rotation of ratchet wheel 22 to stop and, consequently, stopping the prism.

The cam 26, rigid with the loose ratchet wheel 23, controls the slide-block 49 through the medium of the lever 53. When this lever enters a hollow or recess of cam 26, said lever releases the slideblock 49 which places in working position the stop member 42 in order to move the loose ratchet wheel 23.

By giving a suitable profile to cams 44, 25 and 26, it thusbecomes possible:

1. To cause ratchet wheel 23 to rotate by means of the cam 44 rigid with ratchet wheel 22, with the possibility of causing this ratchet wheel 23 to move to the extent of one tooth, or successively of several teeth.

2. To stop ratchet wheel 22 and, consequently, the prism, or to cause them to rotate, by means of the cam 25 rigid with the loose ratchet wheel.

3. The rotation of ratchet wheel 22 being stopped, as well, consequently, as that of cam 44 controlling the rotation of ratchet wheel 23, it is possible, notwithstanding the stoppage of this member 22, to continue the rotation of ratchet wheel 23 by the action of cam 26, lever 53, slide-block 49 and stop member 42.

4. The association of these cams can also allow of obtaining simultaneous rotation of both ratchet wheels 22 and 23.

A circular plate 24, carrying on both its cheek members a series of suitable cams 24a (some of which only have been shown) is used for actuating, in a known manner, the selection of the thread-casting elements.

This plate is moreover provided, on its periphery, with teeth on which acts a checking piston 48.

Fig. '7 shows a mode of securing the selecting elements It on the prism l.

The rotation of ratchet wheel 22 which controls this prism can moreover be produced by a pawl 36 mounted on a fixed support 31.

The engagement of pawl 36 with ratchet wheel 22 is controlled by a lever 38 temporarily supported in its middle portion by a series of removable pins 39 arranged according to a circumierpawl 35 to engage with the teeth of ratchet 22.

The position of pawl 36 is determined relatively to the transverse movement of the carriage so as to compel the ratchet 22 to move to the extent of two teethevery time it is engaged by the pawl.

Consequently, from the predetermined position of the pins 39 depends the speed of rotation of ratchet 22 and, consequently, of the prism. It then becomes possible to control the speed of rotation of the prism according to the importance of the series of selecting members.

Another object of the invention consists in a new knitting method applicable to the manufac-- ture of proportioned articles having a surface which cannot be unfolded or flattened without forming folds or undulations, such as head-gear, tarbooshes, berets, cap-comforters, etc.

All these articles are actually manufactured on knitting machines having a single needle .bed; their special shapes are obtained by successive increasings and diminutions under the control of a prism or of a selecting chain. Owing to the knitting on a single needle bed, the finishing of these articles comprises a manual re-meshing operation intended .o join two generatrices and to thus allow of obtaining a surfaceof revolution.

According to the present invention, this remeshing operation is eliminated owing to a combination of means allowing to obtain a complete and automatically knitted article, without necessitating any napping.

According to an embodiment of this invention, a flat knitting machine having two latch needle beds (Fig. 8) is specially devised for receiving one or more selecting mechanism arranged and controlled as previously described. Under the action of the selecting device, the two needle beds can be moved to knitting position, either simultaneously or alternately. It will be understood that such a machine can be used for automatically passing from plain rib knitted fabric to tubular knitted fabric, and reversely, according. to a well known knitting principle, commonly used for the manufacture of plain or fancy articles with flat back, French tubular hem, or large bac Now, actually known flat knitting machines having two needle beds allowed, up to now, only the production of tubular zones without increasings and diminutions, that is to say at the most capable of receiving the shape of a perfect cylinder.

Consequently, it is advantageous to apply this well known knitting principle to a special knitting machine having two beds of needles individually controlled by a series of selecting elements.

According to a process of manufacture which characterizes the invention, one or more rows in ordinary rib are first of all knitted by simultaneous operation of the two needle beds the needles of which are moved to knitting position by the action of a selecting prism, or by any other known means. After execution of the last row of rib, the needles selected on asingle needle bed are 7 alone presented in knitting position for the formaing this time to the second needle bed, and the cycle proceeds by alternative working on each of the two needle beds, subordinated, on the other hand, to the action of the selecting mechanism controlling the increasings and diminutions.

After execution of a number of rows worked in flat back' the needles of the two needle beds pass again to simultaneous working position, which position corresponds to the closing of the tubular article the shape of which results from a suitable arrangement of the selecting elements. After knitting this closing row, the needles simultaneously execute a number of rows in rib before resuming the tubular work of the next article.

It frequently happens that for obtaining a better balancing of the strip of knitted fabric formed by the succession of articles, it is advantageous to form the latter according to alternately reversed orientations. For that purpose, it sufflces to double the total series of selection and to arrange the selecting members in reverse direc tion on each half. 3

By way of example, Fig. 9 diagrammatically shows the manufacture of a series of tubular articles in the shape of cones, or clowns hats produced according to the new process.

It will easily be understood that this new process allows the automatic manufacture of tubular articles of any shape and in particular the execution of any surfaces of revolution, which can, or

not, be unfolded and flattened without forming folds or undulations such as cones, truncated cones, spherical, parabolic caps, etc.

On the other hand, it will be also understood that instead of manufacturing the tubular article according to the flat back method as just described, it would quite as well be possible to execute this work on the "English tubular back or "small back knitting method.

This method of operation might be applied according to the following processes: one or more rows of rib would be simultaneously executed on both needle beds. This being done, one of the two needle beds would remain in non-knitting position until the tubular article is closed and would keep waiting the stitches previously taken up.

The second needle bed would alone execute the totality of the tubular article and would be the only one subjected to the increasing and diminution mechanism. The closing of the knitted tube would be effected as previously by simultaneous working of the two needle beds.

I claim:-

1. In a flat knitting machine provided with latch needles, the combination of a selecting prism, ratchet wheels arranged for controlling the rotation of said selecting prism, one of said ratchet wheels being rigid with said prism and the other being loose, pawls actuated by means of rocking stop members and arranged for engaging the teeth of said ratchet wheels, a carriage carrying said selecting prism and said ratchet wheels and to which is imparted a rectilinear to-and-fro movement by means of control means rigid in each direction.

2. A flat knitting machine as claimed in claim 1, in which said carriage is actuated by an arm secured on a shaft which rocks under the control of a rotary cam against which constantly bear two arms secured to said shaft.

3. A flat knitting machine as claimed in claim 1, in which a blade parallel to the needle bed, receives a to-and-fro movement and is arranged for opening the latches of the needles at each to-and-iro movement of said prism carryingcarriage.

4. A flat knitting machine as claimed in claim 1, in which said selecting prism isarranged to freely rotate in one and the same direction and to be always advanced in this direction by means of two pawls engaging the teeth of said ratchet wheel rigid with said prism, one of said pawls being actuated by a stop member controlled by a cam rigid with said loose ratchet wheel, and the second pawl being mounted on a fixed support and put in or out of action by means of a lever engaged by pins arranged on said prism according to a circumference.

5. A flat knitting machine as claimed in claim 1, in which a stop member arranged for actuating the pawl of said loose ratchet wheel is put in or out of action sometimes by a cam rigid with said ratchet wheel and sometimes by a camrigid with said prism.

6. A flat knitting machine as claimed in claim 1; in which said rocking stop members freely rest on slide-blocks which are lifted by springs and lowered by rocking levers respectively controlled by one of the cams rigid with the loose ratchet wheel and by two cams one of which is also rigid with said loose ratchet wheel and the other is rigid with the prism.

7. A method of utilization of a flat knitting machine as claimed in claim 1, provided with a double needle bed, for the manufacture of tubular articles, consisting in knitting, by means of the two needle beds, two proportioned faces, the needles of the two needle beds operating simultaneously forming connecting rows at the beginning and at the end of *ese faces, so that both faces of the article are assembled without remeshing.

GASTON LEBOCEY. 20 

